Pakistan Cotton Production
Pakistan is the fourth-largest producer of cotton in the world and the third-largest spinning country in Asia with thousands of ginning and spinning units. Cotton really plays an important role in Pakistan.
In Pakistani marketing year (MY) 2012/13, estimated cotton production is 9.35 million bales, which is down 12% from the previous year’s flood-affected crop. The decrease in cotton production is the result of a 9% decrease in planted area, late water availability at snowing, shortage of electricity, wet weather during crop maturity, and widespread CLCV disease. In MY 2013/14, raw cotton production is forecast at 10.2 million (480 lbs) bales, equivalent to 2.2 million metric tons, up 9 percent from the MY 2012/13 estimated crop. Although MY 2013/14 harvested cotton area is projected at 2.94 million have a 2% decrease from the previous year, the rise in production is due to an expected rebound in yield anticipated to 755kg/ha, 11% higher than the previous year.
Pakistan Cotton Consumption
30 to 40 percent of the cotton in Pakistan is consumed domestically. The remaining is exported as raw cotton, yarn, cloth, and garments. Pakistan is forecast to consume 11.6 million (480 lbs) bales, which is higher than MY 2012/2013 revised estimate of 10.5 million bales, and 16 percent higher than MY 2011/12. In the last two years, cotton consumption increased due to the lower cotton prices, and the ability of textile and apparel industries to overcome the influence of energy shortages. The main driver of the increase in cotton consumption is an anticipated record export of cotton yarn to China, which is 63% higher than last year.
Cotton Processing Industry
Cotton production supports Pakistan’s largest industrial sector, including 400 textile mills, 7 million spindles, 27,000 looms in the mill sector, 700 knitwear units, 4,000 garment units, 650 dyeing and finishing units, nearly 1,000 ginneries, 300 oil expellers and 15,000 to 20,000 indigenous small-scale oil expellers.
The textile and clothing industry has been the main driver of the economy for the last 50 years in terms of foreign currency earnings, jobs creation and the textile industry, which are the most important manufacturing sectors of Pakistan. Besides, Pakistan has the longest production chain, from cotton to ginning, spinning, fabric, processing, made-ups and garments.
